Tazo Calm Chamomile Herbal Tea (20ct filterbags)
At a glance
Summary
Tazo Calm Chamomile scores 30/100. The herbal stack is genuinely calming — chamomile (apigenin) plus rose petals, lemon myrtle, blackberry leaves, spearmint, and hibiscus is a thoughtful sleep-adjacent blend. Two real knocks: a 'natural flavors' line on the label, and the filterbag itself, which is paper heat-sealed with polypropylene and releases billions of micro- and nanoplastic particles into the cup at brewing temperature (Hernandez et al. 2019; Banaei et al. 2024). For a sleep tea where you're drinking it to *reduce* daily stressors, ingesting nanoplastics is the wrong direction.
Key ingredients 8
Polypropylene tea bag (Microplastic shedding)Very Bad
Tazo's standard rectangular filterbags are paper heat-sealed with polypropylene. Hernandez et al. 2019 (Environ. Sci. Technol., McGill) measured ~11.6 billion microplastic and ~3.1 billion nanoplastic particles released per cup from plastic-containing tea bags brewed at 95 °C. Banaei et al. 2024 (Chemosphere, UAB Barcelona) confirmed polypropylene bags shed ~1.2 billion particles per mL and demonstrated particle uptake by human intestinal cells in vitro. There is no established safe exposure threshold for chronic ingestion of polypropylene nanoplastics from food contact materials.
See more about Polypropylene tea bag (Microplastic shedding) →Natural FlavorsBad
'Natural flavors' is a regulatory catch-all (FDA 21 CFR 101.22) that can include dozens of undisclosed compounds, processing aids, and solvents. Adds nothing of nutritional value and erodes ingredient transparency.
See more about Natural Flavors →Rose PetalsGood
Rose petals contribute anthocyanins, polyphenols, and aromatic geraniol/citronellol. Traditional use for mood and digestive comfort; no significant safety concerns.
See more about Rose Petals →Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora)Good
Lemon myrtle is one of the densest natural sources of citral (~90-95% of essential oil). Strong antimicrobial in vitro; pleasant lemon aroma.
See more about Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) →Blackberry LeavesGood
Blackberry leaves contain ellagitannins and flavonoids; traditionally used for mild astringent/digestive support.
See more about Blackberry Leaves →Spearmint LeafGood
Spearmint contributes carvone and rosmarinic acid. Aromatic and digestive-soothing.
See more about Spearmint Leaf →Chamomile Flowers (Matricaria chamomilla)Very Good
Chamomile contains apigenin, a flavonoid that binds to GABA-A benzodiazepine receptors and produces mild anxiolytic and sedative effects. Two RCTs (Amsterdam et al. 2009; 2016) showed measurable anxiety reduction and antidepressant effect with chamomile extract.
See more about Chamomile Flowers (Matricaria chamomilla) →Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa)Very Good
Anthocyanin-rich; randomized trials (Hopkins et al. 2013; McKay 2010) show modest 5-7 mmHg systolic blood-pressure reduction. Adds tartness.
See more about Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) →Processing
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